enhancement

Ms Robina Crook, Associate at HASSELL joins us at this year’s International Urban Design Conference to discuss “Save our minds, bodies and souls, not just our town”.

A tale of how a small rural community taught their urban cousin a thing or two about “Building an Age Friendly Community”

When Ian McCabe, CEO of the Shire of Wyalkatchem, requested the Western Australian Planning Institute of Australia assist them to address the complex challenge of an ageing community, we jumped at the opportunity to help (1).

When you are the CEO of a local rural shire you are not just advocating for the citizens of a community, often you will have a personal connection. The Shire of Wyalkatchem is 194km north east of Perth. It is a community of only 516 souls in 314 private dwellings; with a handful of those dwellings forming the town centre. More than 46% of the “Wylie-ites” are aged 55 years or more, with a median age of 53 years. Ageing infrastructure combined with catering for an aged population is a major issue for the Shire.

Robina Crook

With issues associated with an ageing population becoming a daily reality the Shire of Wyalkatchem took the lead. They invited local government community development officers and chief executives from around the Western Australian Wheatbelt to address a common issue “Building for an Age Friendly Community”

The people of Wyalkatchem are predominately farmers and a few town’s folk, with no particular interest in urban design but a passion for community. They are however a very pro-active community. When the only butcher closed in town, the community came together (2). In drought stricken times, the farmers still managed to diversify and learn new skills becoming master chefs in all things meat. It was this determination to keep their community alive that has driven the decision to “Build for an Age Friendly Community”.

In a workshop environment, local government community development officers and chief executives embraced urban design philosophies to identify age friendly strategies for this passionate, be it small country town:

Guidelines for the Development of Dementia Friendly Communities (3)

Healthy Active by Design (4)

Healthy Built Food Environments (5)

Curtin University Universal Design Guidelines (6)

This is the tale of David and Goliath, unperturbed by the massive challenge ahead a small town has started the journey to create the type of community they want to grow old in.

The most important characteristics of recent century have been technological developments and elatedly rapid urbanization. The wave of urbanisation that is sweeping across the country represents one of the greatest opportunities as well as one of its most serious challenges. This fact has led to many problems like congestion, environmental issues.

The congestion of the city area within the walls along the 19th century and the economic and social crisis of historic centres during most of the 20th century led to their deterioration. Built heritage looked upon exclusively as landmarks of historical value, have been preserved, conserved, restored and renovated over the years, specially because of their cultural value. Historic preservation has been seen for a long time as a field completely separated from Architecture, urban planning and the economic development of a city.

An effort has been made to describe an integrated approach, of preservation and urban design to enhance eminence of the historic city centre. As we integrate traditional architecture in the contemporary context we need to find ways and means to integrate preserved old buildings to act and function on a day to day basis this will be explained through the case studies.

After this study it is seen that the integrated approach including both preservation and urban design could create an urban character that would attract people to use these urban spaces for varying activities throughout the day and also beneficial for economic generation.

Prof Seemantini Soraganvi will be speaking at the 5th International Urban Design Conference – Hilton on the Park in Melbourne 10th – 12th September 2012